Manual:Infantry Manual:Equipment:Weapons:Caseless

Caseless Weapons
Caseless weapons are similar to Electromagnetic Projectile Weapons (EMPW) because both weapons fire a solid round. However, where they differ is that a caseless round still needs a propellant charge to be fired, but said charge is now part of the round being fired. This eliminates the need for a casing, usually made of brass, that would normally store the gun powder charge and be ejected from the weapon after being fired.

Caseless Rifles
R144 Shotgun

The R144 is designed to be a light infantry close quarters combat weapon and its best use is in urban environments.. Due to its lightweight nature, it can be lifted, swung and aimed with little effort while retaining great stopping power.

The R144 uses a clip fed magazine that carries 10 rounds or a larger drum magazine capable of storing 32 rounds. The ammo that can be loaded in the magazine varies from solid slug to small explosive rounds that detonate upon target impact to a taser round that has enough stopping power to incapacitate a Klingon warrior

R385 7mm Machine Gun

The R385 is unique amongst caseless weaponry as the design is less than a hundred years old. The reason for this was that it was developed by a then recent member of the Federation; one that had never truly applied advanced physics to weapons of war. So, when their army was integrated into the SFMC, they brought with them a standard issue rifle that trumped the currently issued light machine gun in nearly every respect. Need-less to say, that after less than a year of fitting out, the General Staff quickly adopted the weapon.

Crew-Served Caseless Heavy Weapons
R234 Automatic Assault Gun

A rapid-fire weapon designed to deliver ordnance on a ballistic trajectory when larger weapon systems are unable or inadvisable. While it can fire ordnance on a ballistic trajectory, which was the original intent, it more often finds itself deployed similarly to a heavy machine gun when more explosive potential is required. Even with its benefits, the R234, like all caseless weapons, doesn’t find many missions that these benefits don’t outweigh the drawbacks. However stealth squadrons within the Maritime Branch are the exception, seeing the lack of even the most minor of electromagnetic signature as the most overwhelming concern.